Easiest way to calculate “basis in Roth IRA contributions” and “basis in Roth IRA conversions”

Hello All!

I am a salaried employee preparing my own 2023 taxes in my favorite tax software, FreeTaxUSA. I get to a menu screen that asks me to “Enter your basis in Roth IRA contributions” and then, in the subsequent box, to “If applicable, enter your basis in Roth IRA conversions.” I am trying to find if I can locate this information pre-filled for myself or if I somehow have to calculate it. I am feeling like an idiot and super frustrated since the numbers are starting to swim in my head. Could I pull the CONTRIBUTIONS BASIS from Line 14 of last year (2022)’s 8606?

In terms of the CONVERSIONS BASIS, I don’t even know where to start. Could I simply use the same amount I converted via the backdoor process last year ($6500, which is the max allowable)? I suppose I am confused because I withdrew $1355 (that had been an overcontribution back in 2019) that is also displayed on my 2023 1099-R with code J and am afraid this $1355 is messing up the math somewhere. Plugging in different numbers in the thousands of dollars seems to do nothing to change the tax I owe, so I am unclear on why this box even matters at the end of the day.

For context, I have been doing backdoor Roth IRAs for the past several years. In 2019, I accidentally overcontributed to my Roth IRA (https://www.irahelp.com/forum-post/71166-accidentally-requested-distribution-correct-overcontribution-wrong-year).

Thanks in advance for all of your wonderful help!



  • Contribution basis must come from your own records, including Forms 5498 that you would have received from the Roth IRAs.  That would include the addition to contribution basis that resulted from any excess Roth IRA contributions not corrected before 2023.
  • Line14 of Form 8606 reports basis in nondeductible traditional IRA contributions, not anything to do with a Roth contributions.
  • Roth conversion would have been reported in Part II of Forms 8606 and on Forms 5498 from the Roth IRA.

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